The repairs have been postponed because of mandatory budget cuts, and Rear Adm. Rick Breckenridge, commander of Submarine Group Two in Groton, Conn., said the Navy must weigh competing priorities.

The shipyard's 4,700 civilian workers will be forced to take 22 days off without pay between April and Sept. 30 under forced federal budget cuts known as sequestration. Workers plan to rally Wednesday against the mandatory cuts.